Yarn dyeing and twisting apparatus



Dec. 26, 1933. x E. c. GWALTN'EY Q 1,940,749

YARN' DYEING AND TVYISTING APPARATUS Filed July 2. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ug, z. 5

INVEN TOR.

A TTO Dec. 26, 1933. E. c. GWALTNEY YARN DYEING AND TWISTING APPARATUS Filed July 2. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 26, 1933. E. c. GWALTNEY YARN DYEING AND 'TWISTING APPARATUS Filed July 2,. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR.

Deg. 26, 1933. E. c. GWALTNEY YARN DYEING AND TWISTING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VEN TOR.

.Filed July 2, 1930 Patented Dec. 26, 1933 :YARN DYEING AND TWISTING APPARATUS I Eugene C. Gwaltney, Laurel Hill, N. C.- Application July 2, 1930 Serial No. 465,361-

10 Claims.

Although textile yarns and threads are relatively fine and,'in many cases, very delicate articles of manufacture, they require a great deal of expensive machinery and labor for their production, involving many different process steps.

-As a result, the cost of the finished yarns and threads far exceeds the cost of the raw materials in them. Two of the important operations in this art are those of spinning and twisting, which are done in multi-spindle machines having usually from one hundred to two hundred and fifty spindles per unit. Spinning is the final.

process in the formation of a single yarn, and in reality it is the continuation of the process started in the roving frames, 1. e., drawing out the yarn to a smaller diameter, twisting it, and winding it on bobbins. Twisting or doubling involves the twisting together of two or more strands of single yarn into a single thread, or the twisting together of two or more threads into a cord.

Machines for spinning and twisting are alike in general principles, and those most commonly in use are of the type known as a ring frame,

in which the drawing, twisting, and winding are effected simultaneously in a continuous operation. Drawing is accomplished by a set of rolls, the speeds of which are calculated to impose a definite draft or tension upon the textile elements. Twisting is accomplished by the combined action of a winding spindle and a ring traveler, and the spun yarn or twisted thread is wound or laid on the bobbin by raising and lowering the ring rail while the spindle rotates. A For the purpose of this application, the terms yam and thread will be used interchangeably in their broadsense as referring to equivalent textile elements.

One of the serious difliculties arising in the operation of, machines of the above-mentioned types is breakage of the yarns or threads, requiring manual repairs which add to the production costs. Experience has shown that such breakages can be reduced to a minimum by operating in high humidity, and for this reason the large mills are provided with elaborate and costly means. for automatically controlling the temperature and humidity of the rooms in which these machines operate.

Another source of difiiculty and expense is in dyeing the yarns .o'r threads. Dyed yarns are required for many different purposes, and heretofore the dyeing has been carried out as a separate operation. Several different dyeing processes have been practiced commercially, but

they all require expensive apparatus, and the yarns or threads have to be handled and rehandled so many times that the dyeing contributes largely to the-cost of the finished product. Furthermore, it has not been possible, with the 80 prior art processes, to dye the individual yarns or threads uniformly in color or in fastness of color. J

The present invention provides apparatus by which the dyeing and twisting of the yarns or threads may be carried out simultaneously or as a single continuous operation, and this in such -way as to reduce the manufacturing costs of colored yarns or threads very substantially as well as to produce absolute uniformity and levelness of color. I i

More specifically, the invention contemplates a twister havingpa supply creeLdelivery rolls, and ring twisting spindles, in which a multiplicity of yarns are fed continuously from the creel to the spindles in the usual manner. A long narrow dy'e trough and a similar wash trough common to a whole series of drawing and twisting units are-mounted on the machine between the supply creel and the delivery rolls, and the '80 yarns are led in, individual units and under independent control through said troughs successively in their passage from the supply creel to the twisting spindles. The yarn units are guided through the troughs by sets of pulleys which are independently movable into and. out of the same at will, and wipers carried by the guide pulley sets are employed to remove the surface moisture from the yarn units as they leave the respective troughs. to travel over a long route through the atmosphere to be dried sufliciently before they'are twisted and rewound, or they may be dried in any other way. 7

The dye trough is of small volume, and the dye liquor is constantly circulated thr l h it during the dyeing operation, being maintained at a constant level and uniform temperature. Means are also provided, for adding dye liquor automatically to the circulation system whereby I to compensate for the dye consumption and evaporation losses, and thus to keep the dye solution at full strength. The yarns travel at high speed, and in order to facilitate quick penetration of the fibers by the dye, a suitable surface 195 tension reducer, or wetting out agent, is mixed with the dye, and the solution is heated and maintained at a substantially uniform temperature.

I In this way, generallyspeaking, the yarns or threads are dyed and dried at the same time Thereafter, the yarn units are caused 90 they are twisted, with no additional labor cost and with very little extra machine cost, and with absolute uniformity in color and in levelness of color. From a practical standpoint, the combined dyeing and twisting operations'may be performed substantially at the regular cost of twisting alone, save for the small cost of the dye stuff.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment has been shown by way of illustration. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view through a combined twisting and dyeing machine made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view thereof with some parts omitted;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of one of the wipers per se;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the wiper on the line 4,-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing more clearly the dye circulation system and heating means; and

, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the same. Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention is shown as applied to a conventional ring twister, though it is not restricted to this specific use, but may be'applied equally as well to other types of twisting machines. The ring twister shown comprises essentially a plurality of twisting and winding units A, to which the yarn or thread elements B of cotton, wool, silk, cellulose, or other material (and hereafter frequently referred to as textile elements) are, fed by drawing means C from a supply unit D. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two series of such units, one at each side of the machine, and the number of units may be varied as desired,

some machines having from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five twisting and winding units in each series. Since the parts at each side of the machine are all alike and of well-known construction, a brief description of only one series need here be given.

I Each of the twisting and winding units A C0171- prises a bobbin 10 mounted on a live spindle 11 journaled for rotation in the upper and lower flanges 12 and 13 of a frame side rail 14, which latter extends throughout the full length of the machine and is secured in the usual manner to spaced frame castings 15. The spindle 11 is drivand bobbin, there is a ring member 20 which is non-rotatably mounted in a ring rail (not shown) and adapted to be raised and lowered through the height of the bobbin 10 by a usual builder motionmechanism. The ring 20 has a flange portion 21 at its inner periphery upon which a vwire traveler 22 is loosely retained but which is free to rotate around the bobbin. As usual, a brake 23 is provided for stopping each spindle when desired, said brake being actuated by a knee-engaging member 24, and causing the belt 16 to slip around the stopped spindle pulley 1'7.

Through the medium of the belt 16, each spindle 11 is driven at high speedpand the textile element B is fed downwardly to it and guided through the traveler 22. In view of the drag imposed on the textile element by the delivery rolls C, the traveler and the approaching portion of the textile element will be caused to rotate around the spindle, but at a somewhat slower speed,and it is this action which imparts the twist to the yarn or thread. A guide member 26, such as a pig-tail wire or its equivalent, is

mounted above the spindle 11 and directs the yarn or thread thereto from the drawing means. This guide member 26 is secured to the side flange 27 of a longitudinal frame rail 28 secured to the spaced frame castings 15.

I The delivery means C (Figs. 1, 2, and 6) comprises cooperating rolls 30 and 31 between which the textile elements pass. The lower roll 30 .extends continuously the full length of the machine, being journaled in spaced brackets 32 supported by the rail 28, and is driven by means of a pulley 33 and belt or chain 34 at one end, or more pref erably by a train of gears. Its speed of rotation is therefore definitely related to that of the drum 18, but the driving ratio may be varied as is well known in the art, to suit different materials and to give different degrees of twist. The upper roll 31, which is larger in diameter than the lower roll 30, is formed in separate and independent sections, one for each spindle, and each such roll section has its opposite ends formed with trunnions 35 journaled in bearing openings or notches 36 in extensions 37 of the brackets 32. When in operation, the roll sections 31 rest upon the roll 32 and are rotated thereby by virtue of the frictional engagement caused by their own weight, and the yarn or thread is fed to the 'unit A by being passed between the two. In order to discontinue the feed of any selected yarn unit, the

corresponding upper roll section 31 needs only to be lifted up to withdraw is trunnions 35 from the notches 36, and it can be temporarily maintained in inoperative position by resting the trunnions in seats 38 formed on the ex ensions 37 rearwardly of the notches 36, as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 1. This discontinuance of the feed is desirable at times to facilitate the initial set-up of the machine, and to enable repairs to be madeto broken individual yarns or threads.

The creel D may be of any desired standard construction, that shown in the drawings comprising a plurality of spaced upright posts 40,

mounted on a central longitudinal frame bar 41,

and supporling a plurality of skewer rails 42 and 43 of well known form. Wire skewers or dead spindles 44 extend outwardly from said skewer rails to accommodate yarn supply bobbins 45, such bobbins being arranged in units of one or more for each twisting unit A. In the illustrated embodiment there are two skewers and bobbins in each supply unit, but any other number may be employed. At any rate, the individual yarns are taken from the creel by the delivery means C and delivered to the twistingunits A.

The machine elements which have thus far been described are old and well known in the art,

and the present invention is concerned with the adaptation of machines of this type to carry out a novel dyeing process at high speed simultaneously with twisting. To this end, the textile elements, in passing from the creel D to the delivery means C, are carried through dyeing apparatus comprising a dye trough 50, a wash trough 51, and independently controllable guide means 52.

V 1,940,749 The dye trough so and wash trough 51 (which and curved bottoms 57 and 58, respectively. The

tops of the troughs are entirely open, and the upper edges of the side walls 53 and 54' may be beaded or flanged as indicated at 59. A plurality of spaced cradle members 60 are employed to support the troughs 50 and 51, said cradle members having concave seats for the accommodation of the troughs, and being secured to intermediate top frame rails 61 disposed between the central bar 41 and the side rails 28. Thus, the dye and wash troughs are compactly arranged between the delivery means C and creel D,-giving ready access to all parts, and without requiring any alteration or enlargement of the main-frame of the machine. This compactness is desirable not only to enable the dyeing apparatus to be applied to twisters of standard construction, but also because it facilitates the independent control of the yarn guiding means, as will now be described.

Secured to the opposite sides of the upright posts at points below the skewer rails 42 and 43,

are spaced longitudinal rails 65 and 66 which constitute supports for the guide means 52. The number of independently controllable guide means 52 corresponds with the number of twisting units A, they being spaced apart as shown in Fig. 2. Each of said guideunits comprises upper 'and lower parallel motion arms 67 and 68, the inner ends of which are pivotally attached to the rails 65 and 66 with friction joints as at 69 and 70. Adjacent their outer ends, the arms 67 and 68 are pivotally connected, as at 7'1 and 72, to a downwardly extending bar 73, the lower end of'which extends a substantial distance below the point of attachment 72 to support a substantially horizontal bar 74, while the outer end of the arm 67 extends beyond the point of attachment 71 whereby to provide a convenient handle 75. This bar 74 extends transversely across the troughs and 51 and in its lower most position it may actually rest upon theupper edges of the trough walls 53 and 54.

Two guide supporting members 76 and 77 are secured intermediate their ends to the horizontal bar 74 in such manner that they extend subv stantial distances into the troughs when the bar 74 is in its lowermost position as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1. Grooved guide rollers -or pulleys 78 and 79 are rotatably mounted at the upper and lower ends respectively of the member 76, said pulleys being formed of porcelain or other suitable material, and similar pulleys 80 and 81 are mounted at the upper and lower ends of the companion member 77. The textile element B in passing from the supply creel D to the delivery means 0 passes over these guide pulleys, that is to say, from the creel downward into the dye bath, under the pulley 79 and upward over the pulley 78, thence across to the pul-. ley 80, downward in the cleansing bath, under the pulley 81, and upward over the pulley 80 again. The yarn can, of course, run 'over the respective pulleys and through the baths more than once, and in fact it will be so run in most 1 instances, the number of timesdepending upon the nature of the textile material andthe dye being used. For this reason, the guide pulleys are each provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves so that the yarn may be given two or three immersions with a. possibility for slight oxidation between each immersion as the yarn travels over the upper pulley 78. In order to guide the yarn to the pulley 79 without contacting with any of the other parts, a small guide loop or wire 83 is carried by theswinging arm 68, said guide loop or wire serving to bring together the two or more strands from the creel D which are to be twisted together.

It willnow beseen that the yarns are guided in individual units through the dye bath and through the cleansing bath, and that the individual guiding means for the respective units are under independent control. Thus, by meansof the handle 75, the parallel motion arms 67 and 68 of any one of the various pulley sets, can be swung either up or down to move the guide pulleys of that set out of or into dyeing position, at will. When they are in their upper position, as shown at the right in Fig. 1, the yarn can be readily threaded through or over the guide pulleys, facilitating the initial set-up of the machine as well as rendering the repair of broken threads easy-of accomplishment.

In order to remove excess surface moisture from the yarn and to prevent splashing, series of wipers such as shown in detail in-Figs. 3 and 4 are employed, though squeezing rolls may be substituted for them, if desired. Each of these illustrated wipers comprises two metal plates 85 and 86 and an intermediate sheet 87 of soft rubber, the several parts being held together by clamping bolts 88 and wing nuts 89. Theplates 85 and 86, substantially rectangular, are provided with alined notches 90 extending downwardly from their upper edges, and the rubber sheet 87, p

which extends entirely across and between said notches, is formed with an incision or slit 91 through which the yarn is adapted to pass, and

by the side walls of which the yarn is squeezed in its passage. The plate 85 extends below the plate 86 andis formed witha notch 92 which,

in cooperation with a notch 93 in the upperedge of the horizontal bar 74, provides a simple means of attachment for the wiper to each guide pulley set. Thus, when in place, the wiper is disposed in a plane perpendicular to that of the member 74', and with the slit 91 substantially in line with the central plane of rotation of the upper guide pulleys 78 and 80. There are two of such wipers mounted-on each bar '74, one being disposed overthe dye trough 50 and at the delivery side of the guide pulley 78, and the other being disposed over the wash trough 51 at the delivery side ofjthe guide pulley 80.

The sheet rubber 87 of each wiper is, of course,

non-absorbent and is sufficiently yieldable to embrace the yarn and wipe its surface cleanly and uniformly, yet without imposing any appreciable tension on the yarn, or offering resistance to its passage. The latter feature is particularly important, and arises from the fact that, themoisture, carried by the yarn andcoming in contact with ,the rubber, acts as alubricant to eliminate friction between the yarn and the rubber. This is one of the peculiar properties of rubber which renders it particularly well adapted for use in the present invention. Fur-- thermore, a wiper of this kind does not produce splashing, and, the moisture which it removes from the yarn drips back into the trough whence it came.

It is desirable in some instances, though not necessary in all cases, to dry the yarn before it reaches the spool or bobbin 10 of the twisting and rewinding unit, and for this purpose the yarn may be led over a long route or circuitous path for exposure to the atmosphere as it travels from the wash trough to said unit. In the illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished by running the yarn upward a substantial distance from the delivery rolls C and over an idler pulley '95 supported by a bracket 95 on a longitudinal rail 95 at the top of the machine, and thence downwardly and through the guide member 26 which directs it properly to the bobbin 10. As the yarn thus passes through the air, it is dried by evaporation, giving a completely and uniformly dyed and dried product of level color, the drying action being facilitated by the vibration which is set up in the yarn between the traveler 22 and idler pulley 95. If desired, the pulley 95 may be internally heated (electrically or otherwise) further to insure the drying operation, or additional drying members may be interposed between the delivery rolls C and guide 26. It is, however, to be understood that the yarn need not be thoroughly dried or dried at all, but may be twisted wet (as in the ordinary wet twister) by running the yarn more directly from the delivery rolls C to the guide member 26 without passing over the pulley 95, or by arranging the pulley 95 lower down on the machine.

The adaption of a twisting machine 'of standard construction to carry out the novel dyeing process simultaneously with the twisting, and thus producing a colored yarn or thread without any extra labor cost and without slowing up the twisting operation, is a signal achievement of the present invention. And the invention possesses added significance in that it obviates the useof the expensive humidity control systems previously alluded to as having been necessary in the prior art. This latter result comes from the fact that the yarn units are run through the dye and cleansing baths whereby they are moistened so as greatly to increase their tensile strength, thus enabling them easily to withstand the pull to which they are subjected by the delivery means. As the yarn units leave the wipers at the delivery side of the cleansing bath, the excess surface moisture is removed, but sufficient moisture remains in the fibers to impart high tensile strength, this moisture being given off gradually, though perhaps not entirely, as the yarn units travel over the long route between the delivery rolls and the twisting units. It is to be noted, however, that this desirable moist condition prevails practically up to the time the component strands become twisted together below the guide pulley 95, after which the moisture is not so necessary because a twisted yarn unit is much stronger than an untwisted unit, irrespective of moisture. In other words, the moisture strengthens the untwisted yarns but is dispensed with gradually as the twisting progresses.

In the final travel of the yarn units from the guides 26 to their respective rings 20, the twisted yarn units are whirled around the bobbins 10 as shown in Fig. 1 with the effect of individual centrifugal hydro-extractors, and thereafter the yarn units are laid uponthe bobbins 'in perfect condition, substantially dry, but not necessarily cordance with the color and fastness desired and the nature of the yarn material. After the dye has been selected, it is mixed with some suitable medium which will reduce the surface tension to a minimum. This makes possible a rapid penetration of the fibers by the dye, and furthermore it effects a very substantial and unexpected saving in the amount of dye used per weight or volume of yarn operated upon. In order further to insure uniformity in color of the product, the dye liquor is circulated continuously through the dye trough during the dyeing operation, and it is automatically maintained at a constant level in the trough, and at full predetermined strength as well as at uniform temperature.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the dye liquor enters the trough 50 at one end thereof through an inlet or supply pipe 96, and overflows from the other end of the trough through a return pipe 97. The supply pipe 96 is connected with a small rotary pump 98 which forces the dye liquor through said pipe 96 from a supply tank 99. The return pipe 97 drains back into said supply tank 99, so that the dye liquor is used over and over again. The speed of the pump 98 is, of course, regulated to deliver the dye liquor in a volume equal to the capacity of the overflow pipe, and by reason of this arrangement, the dye liquor in the trough will be maintained at a constant level. It is to be noted, however, that the dye trough, being very narrow and shallow, contains only a small volume of dye liquor as compared with the amount of yarn adapted to pass through it in a given time period or in a complete run of the apparatus, but

nevertheless, the volume and strength of the liquor are always maintained at definite, predetermined values. Thus, in order to compensate for the dye consumption and evaporation losses, additional dye liquor is continuously added to the circulation system from a replenishing tank 100 under the automatic control of a float valve 101 which is responsive to fluctuations of volume in the circulation system as reflected by the level of the liquor in the supply tank 99. The dye solution in the replenishing tank is of such strength that until this tank becomes empty, there will be no reduction in the strength of the dye liquor in the circulation system, so that a given quantity electrical heating elements) it is preferred to employ steam for this purpose, the steam being passed through a small pipe 102 which is submerged in the bottom of the dye trough 50 and runs from end to end thereof. The steam preferably enters the pipe 102 at the dye discharge or overflow end of the trough, so that the passage of the steam is in a direction contrary to the fiow of the dye solution, and so that the hottest part of the steam pipe comes in contact with the coolest portion of the active dye liquor. In order to maintain the dye liquor at a substantially constant temperature, the supply of steam to the pipe 102 is regulated automatically by a valve 103 under the control of a thermostat 104 which is subject to the heat of the circulating dye liquor. In the illustrated embodiment, the thermostat 104 is arranged in the supply pipe 96, although it could'be disposed within the trough 50 or other- .wise. Hence, as the temperature of the dye liquor drops below a predetermined point, moresteam is admitted to the pipe 102, and vice versa.

It is pointed out that bothof the dye troughs 50 are included in the circulation and heating systems just described (see Fig. 6), so that all of the yarn handled by the machine undergoes the same treatment. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the replenishing tank 100 may be large enough to serve a whole battery of machines, in which case the product of each machine will be of the same high and uniform quality as that of the other machines. In fact, it is possible to run the entire production of a large mill without the slightest deviation in color or fastness of color, and this with a low dye consumption and with great saving in cost. By employing an active dye trough 50 oi comparatively small volume, there is a great saving in dye stuff, inasmuch as there is so much less waste at the end of a run.

The cleansing liquid in the wash trough 51 may be water or any desired chemical solution, and it is circulated from an inlet pipe 106, through the trough, and out through an overflow or drain pipe 107.

It should be understood, that the invention is not limited to the use of one dye trough and one I of sets'of yarn guiding pulleys.

wash trough as herein specifically illustrated and described, but it contemplates any desired number of troughs with a corresponding number For example, a third trough might be used for a fixing or sizing solution if desired, or there might be two dye troughs with an intermediate wash trough, or a single dye trough and two wash troughs, and so forth. In other words, the number of troughs is dependent only upon the number of reactions necessary for the particular dye stuff being used.

The invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing description, so that only a briefsummary will now be given by way of recapitulation. Before cominencing the operation of the machine, the supply bobbins 45 are mounted on their respective skewers 44 of the creel D, and the yarns, are threaded through the guiding means and secured to the bobbins 10. The dye liquor is then set in circulation through the dye troughs 50, and the water or other cleansing liquid through the troughs '51. Then the power is applied to rotate the central drum 18 which drives the spindles 11 of the twisting and rewinding units A. The arms 67 and 680i the various pulley sets having been swung down to their lowermost positions, the yarns are now fed through the successive dye and wash troughs and rewound on 7 The compactness of the dyeing apparatus makes possible its application to twisting machines of standard construction, and it is so simple as to be capable of manufacture at low cost. Since the guide rollers for theindividual yarns are independently controllable, broken yarns can easily be repaired without stopping the feed of the unbroken ones, but by reason of the fact that the yarns are moistened in their passage through the machine, such breakages and resultant repairs are reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, the product ofthe machine is far superior to those produced inthe prior-art, both as to color uniformity, and levelness of color, so that the invention constitutes a substantial advance in the art to which it relates.

The invention is, of course, susceptible of numerous modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described-my invention, what I claim is:

1. -Apparatusv of the class described comprising a series of supply units for yarn or thread elements, a corresponding series of twisting units,v feed rolls for drawing the yarn elements from the supply units and passing them to the twisting units, a liquid dye bath container disposed between the supply units and the feed rolls, and 100.

feed rolls for drawing the yarn elements from the supply units and passing them to the twisting units, a liquid dye bath container disposed between the supply units and the feed rolls, means for guiding the individual yarn units through the dye bath, means for independently controlling the guide means of each yarn unit, and means for drying the yarn units as they pass from the dye bath to the twisting units.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a-series of supply units for yarn or-th'read elements, a. corresponding series of twisting units, feed rolls for drawing the yarn .elements from the supply units and passing them to the twisting units, a common dye bath container and. a common cleansing bath container-disposed between the supply units and the feed rolls, a series or guide sets, one for each supply unit and its corresponding twisting unit, for directing the yarn elements successively through the dye bath and the cleansing bath, and means for independently moving the individual yarn guiding sets into and out of said baths.

' 4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a series of supply units for yarn or thread elements, a corresponding series of twisting units, a

.dye bath container and a cleansing bath container common to all 01' said units and disposedbetween the supply units and the feed-rolls, and independently controllable means for guiding the individual yarn units successively through the dye bath and the cleansing bath, each of said guide means including pulleys immersible in the respective baths, a support for said pulleys, and

.a swinging arm overlying the baths and carrying the pulley support.

In combination with a twisting machine havin a plurality of individual yarn supply units, a corresponding number of yarn twisting units, and feeding means for passing the yarn from the supply units to the twisting units, dyeing apparatus comprising a dye trough and a wash trough arranged in juxtaposition and common to all of the supply units and twisting units, independently controllable means for guiding the yarn elements of the respective units successively through the dye trough and the Wash trough, hols-absorbent wiping elements associated with; said guide means and adapted to engage the yarns/to remove the surface moisture therefrom as they leave the successive troughs, and means for drying the yarns as they travel from the feeding means to the twisting units.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a multiplicity of supply units arranged sub stantially in line, a corresponding plurality of twisting units arranged in a substantially parallel line with the individual units approximatelyopposite those of the supply units, a series of drawing rolls for feeding the individual yarn units from the supply units to the twisting units, a long narrow trough arranged between the supply units and the feed rolls and adapted to contain a small volume of dye liquor, a second long narrow trough arranged alongside the dye trough and adapted to contain a small volume of cleansing liquid, a'series of guide pulley sets, one for each supply unit and its corresponding twisting unit, for directing the yarn units successively through the dye bath and the cleansing bath, non-absorbent wipers associated with the guide pulley sets to embrace the yarn units and remove the surface moisture therefrom as they leave the successive baths, and means for independently moving the individual yarn guiding sets into and out of said baths.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a multiplicity of supply units arranged substantially in line, a corresponding plurality of twisting units arranged in a substantially parallel line with the individual units approximately opposite those of the supply units, a. series of drawing rolls for feeding the individual yarn units from the supply units to the twisting units, a long narrow trough arranged between the supply units and the feed rolls and adapted to contain a small volume of dye liquor, a second long narrow trough arranged alongside the dye trough and adapted to contain a small volume of cleansing liquid, a series of guide pulley sets, one for each supply unit and its corresponding twisting unit, for directing the yarn units successively through the dye bath and the cleansing bath, non-absorbent wipers associated with the guide pulley sets to embrace the yarn units and remove the surface moisture therefrom as they leave the successive baths, means for independently moving the individual yarn guiding sets into and out of said baths, and means for drying the yarn units in their passage from the drawing rolls to the twisting units.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a multiplicity of supply units arranged substantially in line, a corresponding plurality of twisting units arranged in a substantially parallel line with the individual units approximately opposite those of the supply units, a series of drawing rolls for feeding the individual yarn units from the supply units to the twisting units,

a long narrow trough arranged between the supply units and the feed rolls and adapted to contain a small volume of dye liquor, a second long narrow trough arranged alongside the dye trough and adapted to contain a small volume of cleansing liquid, a series of guide pulley sets, one for each supply unit and its corresponding'twisting unit, for directing the yarn units successively through the dye .bath and the cleansing bath, non-absorbent wipers associated with the guide pulley sets to embrace the yarn units and remove the surface moisture therefrom. as they leave the successive baths, means for independently moving the individual yarn guiding sets into and out of said baths, and means for continuously circulating the dye liquor through the dye trough while maintaining it at a constant level therein.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a multiplicity of supply units arranged substantially in line, a corresponding plurality of twisting units arranged in a substantially parallel line with the individual units approximately opposite those of the supply units, a series of drawing rolls for feeding the individual yarn units from the supply units to the twisting units, a long narrow trough arranged between the supply units and the feed rolls and adapted to contain a small volume of dye liquor, a second long narrow trough arranged alongside the dye trough and adapted to contain a small volume of cleansing liquid, a series of guide pulley sets, one for each supply unit and its corresponding twisting unit, for directing the yarn units successively through the dye bath and the cleansing bath, non-absorbent wipers associated with the guide pulley sets to embrace the yarn units and remove the surface moisture therefrom as they leave the successive baths, and means for independently moving the individual yarn guiding sets into and out of said baths, means for continuously circulating the dye liquor through the dye trough while maintaining it at a constant level therein, and means for drying the yarn units in their passage from the drawing rolls to the twisting units.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a multiplicity of yarn supply units arranged substantially in line, a corresponding plurality of twisting units arranged in a substantially parallel line with the individual units approximately opposite those of the supply units, means for feeding the individual yarn units from the supply units to the twisting units, a long narrow trough arranged between the two lines of units and adapted to contain a small volume of dye liquor, and independently controllable guide pulley sets for directing the yarn units through the dye liquor in the trough, there being one such pulley set for each supply unit and corresponding twisting unit, each setcomprising two pulleys in vertically spaced relation to pass the yarn units into and out of the bath a plurality of times in effecting the dyeing operation.

EUGENE C. GWALTNEY. 

